title: Biological anoxic treatment of O₂-free VOC emissions from the petrochemical industry: a proof of concept study.
abstract: An innovative biofiltration technology based on anoxic biodegradation was proposed in this work for the treatment of inert VOC-laden emissions from the petrochemical industry. Anoxic biofiltration does not require conventional O2 supply to mineralize VOCs, which increases process safety and allows for the reuse of the residual gas for inertization purposes in plant. The potential of this technology was evaluated in a biotrickling filter using toluene as a model VOC at loads of 3, 5, 12 and 34 g m(-3)h(-1) (corresponding to empty bed residence times of 16, 8, 4 and 1.3 min) with a maximum elimination capacity of ∼3 g m(-3)h(-1). However, significant differences in the nature and number of metabolites accumulated at each toluene load tested were observed, o- and p-cresol being detected only at 34 g m(-3)h(-1), while benzyl alcohol, benzaldehyde and phenol were detected at lower loads. A complete toluene removal was maintained after increasing the inlet toluene concentration from 0.5 to 1 g m(-3) (which entailed a loading rate increase from 3 to 6 g m(-3)h(-1)), indicating that the system was limited by mass transfer rather than by biological activity. A high bacterial diversity was observed, the predominant phyla being Actinobacteria and Proteobacteria.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering and Environmental Technology, University of Valladolid, Dr Mergelina s/n, 47011 Valladolid, Spain.
authors.forename: Raúl
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Muñoz
authors.forename: Theo S O
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Souza
authors.forename: Lina
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Glittmann
authors.forename: Rebeca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pérez
authors.forename: Guillermo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Quijano
mesh_terms: D039903:Actinobacteria / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D001547:Benzaldehydes / Q000737:chemistry; D019905:Benzyl Alcohol / Q000737:chemistry; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D044822:Biodiversity; D019149:Bioreactors / Q000382:microbiology*; D058645:Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000737:chemistry; D052918:Environmental Restoration and Remediation; D004867:Equipment Design; D005740:Gases; D007221:Industry; D059013:Microbial Consortia; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000737:chemistry; D010100:Oxygen / Q000737:chemistry*; D020560:Proteobacteria / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012492:Salts; D013997:Time Factors; D014050:Toluene / Q000737:chemistry; D055549:Volatile Organic Compounds
chemical_list: D001547:Benzaldehydes; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D005740:Gases; D012492:Salts; D055549:Volatile Organic Compounds; D014050:Toluene; D019905:Benzyl Alcohol; D009584:Nitrogen; D010100:Oxygen; C032175:benzaldehyde
keywords: Anoxic VOC removal; Biological gas treatment; Biotrickling filter; Denitrification; O(2)-free VOC emissions; Toluene